Episode 72. Can I Kill You?
“So the Count said that Marquis Oswald was the culprit?”
When the two were left alone, Isabelle asked openly.
“He said it was highly probable. We need to investigate the incident in the Orbis Kingdom a bit more to be sure.”
“Then it wasn’t the Silver Wolf’s doing?”
“There’s more evidence that Marquis Oswald is the culprit.”
Isabelle smiled meaningfully.
“Well. You didn’t want to erase the Silver Wolf from the suspect list because he resembled Count Weiss, did you?”
Adele felt a sting. The more she thought about it, the more strongly she denied it.
“What does it matter that the Silver Wolf resembles the Count? I told you with evidence. That evidence points to Marquis Oswald.”
“But Marquis Oswald was in the Orbis Kingdom when my husband died. At least the Marquis didn’t kill my husband.”
“Do you also think that the Silver Wolf is the culprit?”
“Because it’s a beast with enough strength to tear a person apart in one breath. Didn’t Adele’s mother suffer the same?”
“...!”
Isabelle clicked her tongue as she looked at Adele’s frozen face.
“I’m sorry. I brought back bad memories.”
“It’s okay. If only I could catch the real culprit...”
“I’ll ask you one thing. When Adele’s mother died, and at the hunting ground where my husband died, and at Greenhill, where the incident is currently taking place. Who was closer to the scene of the crime, Marquis Oswald or Count Weiss?”
For a moment, it felt as if an unknown dagger had stabbed Adele’s heart.
“Are you suspecting the Count right now? This can’t be happening!”
Adele’s voice trembled as she said those words.
She might have also been suspecting him deep in her subconscious.
The strangest thing was that Christine hadn’t shown up for several days when Adele’s mother died.
He should have been the first to come and comfort her.
However, on the other hand, she strongly denied it, saying that it wasn’t true.
“I have evidence, too. Since the method of harming them is the same, if we assume that they were all committed by the same person, then the Count is more likely than the Marquis.”
“But you said earlier that it was the work of a beast with incredible strength. Then why are you suspecting the Count?”
Isabelle calmly spoke to Adele, who was confused.
“Have you heard of the wolf clan?”
“The wolf clan... I have.”
She had heard that such a race had lived a long time ago. Adele had also thought that the silver wolf might be related to the wolf clan.
However, it was not easy to find information related to them. This was because the Vatican had banned stories about the wolf clan.
Isabelle said,
“They were a strong race that could command wolves. They could take human form, and they could also transform into wolves. When they transformed into wolves, they had five claws like humans. They say that because of their incredible strength and ferocious and cruel nature, they eventually fought among themselves and were exterminated.”
“Isn’t that just a myth?”
“Myth? How can you explain the events that are happening now if they aren’t the work of the wolf clan?”
Adele laughed out loud.
“Are you saying that Count Weiss is part of the wolf clan?”
“...”
Isabelle answered with silence.
“You’re mistaken. I’ve grown up with him since he was a child. He’s my closest person now. So there’s no way I wouldn’t know. Absolutely not!”
Adele’s mind was in disarray even as she denied it strongly.
‘Could it be that the silver wolf I saw in the bedroom one day wasn’t a dream... Christine...?’
No. Absolutely not!
As if she had read Adele’s mind, Isabelle smiled faintly and turned around.
“Yes. But I hope you think carefully about what I said.”
***
How much time had passed?
Adele, who had been sitting absentmindedly on the bench, looked up at the long shadow cast beneath her feet.
He was standing before her.
Her Christine, with his silver hair fluttering in the sunlight and his dazzlingly beautiful smile. He was so mysterious that sometimes he didn’t seem human.
Was he really the Silver Wolf?
Was that why he hated talking about the Silver Wolf?
“What are you doing here?”
“Chris...”
Christine playfully wrinkled his nose.
“I heard there was a bazaar, so I took the time to come here, and now you’re just slacking off?”
“Yeah.”
Adele forced a weak smile.
“Where does it hurt?”
He stared at her intently, then reached out and touched her forehead.
At that moment!
Adele flinched without realizing it and pulled back.
Christine’s expression hardened.
“Why, what happened?”
“No...”
“Your face is pale.”
“Seira came by a little while ago. I must have eaten something bad because of the argument.”
“Somehow. I feel cold.”
Without hesitation, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around Adele.
“Get up quickly. Let’s go to the doctor.”
Adele quickly calmed him down, who would have been very upset if it were his own business.
“It’s not that bad. I’m just a little tired. I guess I overdid it preparing for the bazaar.”
“Well, I heard you practiced shooting every day. You must have overdone it preparing for the bazaar.”
Adele raised her head and stared at Christine.
He, who was colder and sharper than anyone else, believed Adele’s lies at face value.
He worried like this without even knowing that she was doubting and fearing him.
Adele, who was sitting on the bench, hugged his waist and buried her face in his. Then, her suspicions about him melted away, and her heart became at ease as if it were a lie.
“I feel like I’m getting better just by doing this.”
“Shall I tell you something more relieving?”
He smiled, running his hands through Adele’s hair as she looked up.
“The desserts you made are already sold out.”
“Wow.”
“Let’s go back. I’ve already told the Empress everything.”
“She didn’t say anything?”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
Adele shook her head and stood up.
Isabelle had been suspicious of Christine all along, but she had never shown it. There was no way she would pretend to know now.
Adele got into the carriage escorted by Christine. There were piles of documents on one side of the seat.
He must have noticed her curiosity.
“The report from the investigator dispatched to the Kingdom of Orbis arrived today.”
“What did he say? It was Stone’s doing?”
“Well, this case and the murder method are almost identical. It’s not like they put the bodies on display like this time, but a large number of victims’ bodies were found near the diplomatic mission where Stone was. The Orbis government saw him as the culprit, but since there was no solid evidence, they decided to expel him for fear of causing a diplomatic issue.”
“The report... can I see it?”
“Sorry. It’s difficult for security reasons.”
“Yes. But it’s still really fortunate.”
Adele brushed her chest.
She had suspected Christine for a moment after hearing Isabelle’s words.
Right now, it was more important to Adele that Stone was the real culprit than that he be caught and punished as the culprit.
The certainty that Christine had nothing to do with these incidents.
At that moment, Christine’s cautious voice was heard.
“But Stone won’t be punished easily. He’s right on the verge of marrying the Princess, just like you said. We have to gather crucial evidence and strike him down in one fell swoop.”
“Shall we go to the Marvel Palace?”
Christine asked.
“No, go to the shooting range.”
“Ta-ang! Ta-ang!”
A gunshot rang out in the blue sky.
The apples thrown high into the air all fell down after being hit by Adele’s pistol.
“Oh, you’re really amazing! You’ve improved so quickly.”
Jennifer clapped his hands in a seal-like manner as she watched the apples fall to pieces.
“It’s all because you’re so great, Sir.”
Adele humbly praised him.
“Actually, I wanted you to say that. What do you think, Master?”
He shrugged and looked back at Christine.
Adele’s shooting skills had improved unbelievably in just a week. Of course, her outstanding talent was there, but he believed that his excellent teachings had played a big role.
Then, Christine, who had been quietly watching with his hands behind his back, snatched the apple from Jennifer’s hand. And then he threw it at Adele without mercy.
“...!”
Ta-ang!
Startled, Adele quickly aimed and fired.
The bullet missed her beautifully, and the apple just grazed Adele’s shoulder.
However, he continued to throw apples without giving her a moment to rest.
Taang! Taang! Taang!
Adele fired her gun frantically, but missed a single one.
“Somehow. I feel cold.”
Without hesitation, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around Adele.
“Get up quickly. Let’s go to the doctor.”
Adele quickly calmed him down, who would have been very upset if it were his own business.
“It’s not that bad. I’m just a little tired. I guess I overdid it preparing for the bazaar.”
“Well, I heard you practiced shooting every day. You must have overdone it preparing for the bazaar.”
Adele raised her head and stared at Christine.
He, who was colder and sharper than anyone else, believed Adele’s lies at face value.
He worried like this without even knowing that she was doubting and fearing him.
Adele, who was sitting on the bench, hugged his waist and buried her face in his. Then, her suspicions about him melted away, and her heart became at ease as if it were a lie.
“I feel like I’m getting better just by doing this.”
“Shall I tell you something more relieving?”
He smiled, running his hands through Adele’s hair as she looked up.
“The desserts you made are already sold out.”
“Wow.”
“Let’s go back. I’ve already told the Empress everything.”
“She didn’t say anything?”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
Adele shook her head and stood up.
Isabelle had been suspicious of Christine all along, but she had never shown it. There was no way she would pretend to know now.
***
Adele got into the carriage escorted by Christine. There were piles of documents on one side of the seat.
He must have noticed her curiosity.
“The report from the investigator dispatched to the Kingdom of Orbis arrived today.”
“What did he say? It was Stone’s doing?”
“Well, this case and the murder method are almost identical. It’s not like they put the bodies on display like this time, but a large number of victims’ bodies were found near the diplomatic mission where Stone was. The Orbis government saw him as the culprit, but since there was no solid evidence, they decided to expel him for fear of causing a diplomatic issue.”
“The report... can I see it?”
“Sorry. It’s difficult for security reasons.”
“Yes. But it’s still really fortunate.”
Adele brushed her chest.
She had suspected Christine for a moment after hearing Isabelle’s words.
Right now, it was more important to Adele that Stone was the real culprit than that he be caught and punished as the culprit.
The certainty that Christine had nothing to do with these incidents.
At that moment, Christine’s cautious voice was heard.
“But Stone won’t be punished easily. He’s right on the verge of marrying the Princess, just like you said. We have to gather crucial evidence and strike him down in one fell swoop.”
“Then, have you investigated the Oswald underground crypt?”
“The crypt?”
“I remembered it a while ago. There were unidentified skeletons piled up there. After hearing your story, I think those skeletons were also victims.”
Christine’s eyes lit up at Adele’s words.
“It’s quite possible.”
“We should investigate quickly. Since I told Seira today, Stone might hear about it. Of course, it’s more likely not to...”
“What are you talking about?”
“I provoked Seira a bit. I thought her personality might be helpful to us.”
Christine didn’t quite understand what Adele was saying, but he didn’t think too deeply about it.
“Anyway, I’ve attached someone to Stone and the Oswald family, so they’ll contact me if anything happens.”
“You’re really capable.”
“Do you understand now?”
Christine made a proud expression. He seemed like a child who always liked to be praised.
However, Adele had something on her mind.
“So Stone was the silver wolf?”
Christine’s smiling expression hardened.
“What are you talking about?”
Adele started the story as if testing him.
“Have you ever heard of the Wolf Clan?”
His eyes were calm and cold.
This was the look he had when he was hiding his emotions.
Adele felt uneasy about this.
He would make that expression whenever the Silver Wolf was mentioned.
What on earth are you hiding, Chris?
“...I’ve heard of it.”
“It can take the form of a human, and it can also transform into a wolf. With its five claws and incredible strength, it can instantly harm a person. Looking at the victims, a human can’t do that.”
Adele felt that her wish was credible.
Yes, Stone is the culprit and the silver wolf. That’s how it had to be.
“So if Stone is a member of the wolf clan and a silver wolf, it makes sense why he did that.”
“Adele...”
Christine called out in a hoarse voice.
But Adele didn’t want to stop thinking.
“It’s clear that he killed my mother, that he murdered the previous Emperor, and even this incident. He’s a devil in human skin. I have to catch him.”
“Adele! Look at me.”
In the end, Christine cupped her cheek and made her look at him.
Adele stared at him with an expression that seemed like she was going to cry.
‘No? You’re the silver wolf. That’s ridiculous.’
How could I not know after all the time we’ve been together...
“Yes, I will investigate the possibility that Stone is a wolf clan.”
“What if he is a wolf clan?”
“The Vatican will interrogate him directly. The Oswald family will fall. And...”
Christine stopped talking and stared at Adele.
“Do you want him to be a wolf clan?”
“Yes. That’s why I want Oswald to fall. It’s so horrible that a beast can mix with people and act like a human.”
“I guess... That’s right.”
Christine’s expression darkened as he muttered softly.
‘Chris, why do you look so hurt? As if it had something to do with you.’
Adele’s mind was too complicated.
If the wolf clan had killed her mother, then that alone would have made them terrible.
A beast that could turn a person into that in an instant.
But what if Christine really was a wolf clan?
If he were a silver wolf...
“The crypt?”
“I remembered it a while ago. There were unidentified skeletons piled up there. After hearing your story, I think those skeletons were also victims.”
Christine’s eyes lit up at Adele’s words.
“It’s quite possible.”
“We should investigate quickly. Since I told Seira today, Stone might hear about it. Of course, it’s more likely not to...”
“What are you talking about?”
“I provoked Seira a bit. I thought her personality might be helpful to us.”
Christine didn’t quite understand what Adele was saying, but he didn’t think too deeply about it.
“Anyway, I’ve attached someone to Stone and the Oswald family, so they’ll contact me if anything happens.”
“You’re really capable.”
“Do you understand now?”
Christine made a proud expression. He seemed like a child who always liked to be praised.
However, Adele had something on her mind.
“So Stone was the silver wolf?”
Christine’s smiling expression hardened.
“What are you talking about?”
Adele started the story as if testing him.
“Have you ever heard of the Wolf Clan?”
His eyes were calm and cold.
This was the look he had when he was hiding his emotions.
Adele felt uneasy about this.
He would make that expression whenever the Silver Wolf was mentioned.
What on earth are you hiding, Chris?
“...I’ve heard of it.”
“It can take the form of a human, and it can also transform into a wolf. With its five claws and incredible strength, it can instantly harm a person. Looking at the victims, a human can’t do that.”
Adele felt that her wish was credible.
Yes, Stone is the culprit and the silver wolf. That’s how it had to be.
“So if Stone is a member of the wolf clan and a silver wolf, it makes sense why he did that.”
“Adele...”
Christine called out in a hoarse voice.
But Adele didn’t want to stop thinking.
“It’s clear that he killed my mother, that he murdered the previous Emperor, and even this incident. He’s a devil in human skin. I have to catch him.”
“Adele! Look at me.”
In the end, Christine cupped her cheek and made her look at him.
Adele stared at him with an expression that seemed like she was going to cry.
‘No? You’re the silver wolf. That’s ridiculous.’
How could I not know after all the time we’ve been together...
“Yes, I will investigate the possibility that Stone is a wolf clan.”
“What if he is a wolf clan?”
“The Vatican will interrogate him directly. The Oswald family will fall. And...”
Christine stopped talking and stared at Adele.
“Do you want him to be a wolf clan?”
“Yes. That’s why I want Oswald to fall. It’s so horrible that a beast can mix with people and act like a human.”
“I guess... That’s right.”
Christine’s expression darkened as he muttered softly.
‘Chris, why do you look so hurt? As if it had something to do with you.’
Adele’s mind was too complicated.
If the wolf clan had killed her mother, then that alone would have made them terrible.
A beast that could turn a person into that in an instant.
But what if Christine really was a wolf clan?
If he were a silver wolf...
“Shall we go to the Marvel Palace?”
Christine asked.
“No, go to the shooting range.”
***
“Ta-ang! Ta-ang!”
A gunshot rang out in the blue sky.
The apples thrown high into the air all fell down after being hit by Adele’s pistol.
“Oh, you’re really amazing! You’ve improved so quickly.”
Jennifer clapped his hands in a seal-like manner as she watched the apples fall to pieces.
“It’s all because you’re so great, Sir.”
Adele humbly praised him.
“Actually, I wanted you to say that. What do you think, Master?”
He shrugged and looked back at Christine.
Adele’s shooting skills had improved unbelievably in just a week. Of course, her outstanding talent was there, but he believed that his excellent teachings had played a big role.
Then, Christine, who had been quietly watching with his hands behind his back, snatched the apple from Jennifer’s hand. And then he threw it at Adele without mercy.
“...!”
Ta-ang!
Startled, Adele quickly aimed and fired.
The bullet missed her beautifully, and the apple just grazed Adele’s shoulder.
However, he continued to throw apples without giving her a moment to rest.
Taang! Taang! Taang!
Adele fired her gun frantically, but missed a single one.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment